The Handmaid's Tale Themes

Freewill in thinking

We know that Offred has some degree of awareness of being 'brainwashed' or inducted into Gilead, but we don't know how much of her thoughts are her own, or how many of them are accurate because of this.

causes of complacency

the role of gender in society (in relation to power)

education and knowledge, power

religion and ideology

sex/reproduction

clothing

role

handmaids, marthas, wives

commanders, footmen

The value/worth of an individual

the value of an individual within society

How their value is determined

physical "expertise": Handmaids (Reproductive System)

Skills: Marthas (Cooking)

handmaid's are not supposed to interact with other men

Offred's value is dependent on her fertility

Handmaids: dress in red and have wing folded over their faces

Martha's aren't allowed to develop relationships with Handmaids

friendship

Friendship vs personal survival/wellbeing

women have no individualtiy

the role of language in politics and power

Hand maids are not allowed to drink coffee, smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol

Friendship between Offred and

not only men vs women but also: women vs women

danger of totalitarianism, language as a tool for repression,

rivalry between women is encouraged

celebrations and traditions: “Prayvaganzas,” “Salvagings,” and “Particicutions”

women are defined by domestic ranking, men are defined by military ranking

Names of Handmaids reveal to which commander they belong: Offred + Offlegen

wives vs handmaids

handmaids vs handmaids

pregnancy (who first and is the child healthy?)

biblical terms: Sons of Jacob (Jews), Children of Ham (black people

"spying" on each other (on the daily walks)

power in the household --> the woman at the mans side vs the woman with whom he has/might have children

maintains control of women's bodies

unbabies, unwomen

individuality and what it means to be human

The different roles (as Rita says: "better her than me" about being a handmaid)

women are not allowed to read

the 'old greeting' (i.e. hello) is forbidden

lower/working class women between higher class woman

Atwood warns of 'not paying attention'

women vs unworn

If people have some freedom to make decisions (even if between unappealing options) people will endure oppression

Offred escapes by chance, not through resistance

only a "function", not for pleasure

Thus, made to be a "ritual" between the Handmaid, the Wife and the Commander

Offred remembers her mother saying that it is “truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations"

women oppress and indoctrinate other women, despite being oppressed themselves

Serena Joy and Aunt Lydia enjoy exercising power over other women

Gilead is a theocracy, founded on literal Old Testament interpretations

store names: milk and honey

Handmaid: based on the biblical precedent of Rachel and Leah,
fertile servants can carry on adulterous relationships to allow infertile women like the Commander’s Wife to have families

epigraph: Commander reads before each ceremony as justification

criticism of how theocracies interpret ideologies for oppression

many biblical quotes are altered, Offred knows, but can't check

storytelling and memory

formed based on audio recordings of Offred telling story, old-fashioned storytelling tradition

Offred switches between time periods. seems like Offred lives in several worlds, the terrible present, the confusing but free past, and the Rachel and Leah Center that bridged them

tenses shift, some past some present

her uncertainty is brought out by her pondering at other peoples' fate and intentions (e.g. Luke's fate, is Ofglen lying or a believer, does Nick touch her foot on accident or on purpose)

she imagines events (has little to do): Aunt Lydia and Janine talking about Moira, what Nick might think of her and the Commander’s relationship

brings out boredom, suspicion, paranoia, "we, like Offred, are trapped within the echo-chamber of her mind"

rights and responsibilities of individual in society

Offred doesn't know what's going on, but neither does Commander

lives in a state of paranoia and confusion

Offred is not allowed to read